proteanme

I’ve updated the listen up page with mp3’s of stuff I’ve worked on. Feel free to download any of the tracks. And lemme know if you liked something in particular.

I love this line from Prison Girls by Neko Case so much so that I listen the song, which I’m not a big fan of, just to hear her sing: I love your long shadows and your gunpowder eyes.

How is it a song from Hello Dolly can pop in your head when you’re not a queen or a diva? The other night all of  the sudden I was belting out “Put on your Sunday clothes when you feel down and out, strut down the street and have your picture took.” And somehow this led to “Easy to Be hard” from Hair. These lines from that song are really pretty terrific.

How can people be so heartless
You know I’m hung up on you
Easy to give in
Easy to help out

A friend at work asked me my opinion on concept records and I told him they were fine with me as long as the concept didn’t get in the way of the music. I’d even consider myself a fan if the concept produces something that kicks ass, like Tommy or Pet Sounds. And thinking about that made me realize why I’m not a big fan of conceptual art - too much concept, not enough art, especially when the concepts aren’t very interesting in the first place. I know that it’s a pretty broad and sweeping statement and maybe I’ll bite my tongue later. Or not. I’m open to being wrong on this.

I read this poem yesterday that had the air of a Dylan song or maybe something from Leonard Cohen, beautifully narrative. I’ve not been reading all that much poetry lately, which made discovering this a real pleasure.

I’ve had the headphones on a lot at work lately. Today started with Al Green, which is my default setting when I can’t figure out what I want to listen to. After that I let a random sampling of singles play, including the April March’es Chic Habit, which makes me feel like a letch, although maybe I feel that way for other reasons, Annie’s Chewing Gum, which I’ve never gotten tired of hearing, The Antler’s Bear, which I always forget how much I like, and Aretha doing Until You Come Back to Me, which reminds me why I love a divas.

As a late bday gift to myself I got RU and myself tix to go see Sharon Jones. I’ve not been to a show in a while and I can’t think of a better way to break the live music fast than some old school soul. If you’ve never seen Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, you are missing a show and I mean a show with a capital “S.” Sharon has tapped into the energy of James Brown and Little Richard and the Dap Kings are the reincarnation of a Motown studio band.

I was helping a friend move the other day and giving a ride to this super nice 20 something year old. We were listening to  my 2009 fave playlist and she said “I think I want to steal you Ipod.” I was pleased as punch, secretly, of course. I wish I could say it was about making a connection through music, but at the moment it was about having my tastes affirmed. I am self-indulgent.

Larry Sultan died. He did some really great work. I hope one day I get to see it in person.

Been listening to Pitchfork’s best tracks of 2009. Lots of great singles there. More and more that’s what I find. Not so many great records, but lots of great songs. There’s this one by Matt and Kim, Daylight; it’s been running through my brain all day.

I’m really interested in reading Stephen Elliott’s Adderall Diaries. I’ve finally got some breathing space for leisure reading after spending my fall reading strategically this writing certificate program I’m in. Not that I’ve not read some great stuff, especially when it comes to Amy Hempel and Raymond Carver, but it’s not quite the same as the thrill of finding something new on your own.

I was thinking about marriage today. And how asking someone if they are married and how the question just assumes heterosexuality. And how if gay marriage ever does happen, asking “are you married” will be just that, and not some passive way of trying to parse the orientation of queers who don’t stand out.

I read this short story by Amy Hempel that blew me away — In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried. Near perfect stuff. She worked with Carver’s editor, Gordon Lish. If’ you’ve not read her before, you’ve really got something to look forward to.

If you’re a Portlander and you ride a bike, I’m officially endorsing City Bikes as the best repair shop in town. REI is great because it’s open late and there’s this one guy who really know what he’s doing and he’ll fix what needs fixing and not try to sell you a bunch of other crap.But he’s not always there. City Bike has just always done me right. Plus it’s a collective.

Some favorite tracks from 2009.

• Sheila - Atlas Sound
• Tunguska - Cymbals Eat Guitars
• Northern Lights - Bowerbirds
• Island, IS - Volcano Choir
• I Poke Her Face - Kid Cudi
• Two Weeks - Grizzly Bear

Hot Blooded by Foreigner is running through my head right now, which reminds me that earlier in the day my mental juke box was stuck on an endless loop of I’ll Tumble For You by Culture Club and All The Single Ladies by Beyonce. I’m not proud. It’s not like they’re great songs. They just got suck in my head. Last week it was Madonna’s Gonna Dress You Up in My Love. I listened to a bunch of other stuff but none of it stuck. Except when I was locking up at work today. I was walking around the factory with Neil Young’s Everybody Knows This Is No Where playing in the my brain, The la la la part.

Some of my favorite songs so far. A short and not well through through list for Chris.

• Magpie to the Morning - Neko Case
• Hand on Your Heart (Kylie Minogue cover) - Jose Gonzales
• Reasons to Quit - Phospherescent
• Inspiration Information - Sharon Jones
• Wichita Lineman - Johnny Cash
• Trust Me - The Streets
• Daniel Rossen - Too Little Too Late
• Paperthin -Via Audio
• A Falling Through - Ray LaMontange

Don’t ask me to explain in any detail cause this isn’t an intellectual endeavor, it’s more experiential, but I suppose it does say something about the kinda guy I am. First, there’s Al Green. And then of course there’s some Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley and James Brown. Oh and the longing of Chet Baker. And as one would expect there are songs by the the Who, the Kinks, the Pixies, the Beatles, Velvet Uuderground and even the Beach Boys (apologies go out to a certain girl that I’m not including the Doors or Stones here) plus a whole smattering of stuff from 70’s AM radio.  But man oh man, I was surprised, way surprised, to hear Glen Campbell last night and have a moment of getting my guy on. Tapped right into something prehistoric, prehistoric in relation to my own personal history.

I’ve got this new mix going on my ipod that I call, “longing”.  It hits the spot, even if it’s a tender one.  It’s got the Kinks, Cat Power, Sera Cahoone, Lucinda Williams and depending on if I’m at work of home, it’s also got Al Green and Bjork.

My CSA share started about amonth ago and that’s led to a number of Mondays in my kitchen.  I’m happy to report I’ve had some early successes, like lettuce smothered in pancetta, marinated carrots and balsamic onion jam. One of the things I like best about the share is it forces me out of old habits and I end cooking things that I might not have picked out myself.

Oh and for you Portlanders I found some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever had here and it’s in China town, of all places.  I can’t remember the name of the palce, but it’s right across the street from he Magic Garden.  Hmmm, what am I doing at the Magic Garden?!